Tagged: Richard Gorra

Richard Gorra Discusses Mindfulness Walks and How They Can be Helpful for Stress Management

Richard Gorra walking on a nature trail in Minnesota

Richard Gorra has made a concerted effort over the years to appreciate many of life’s finer, yet simpler, moments. When things gets stressful, utilizing simple pleasures to bring yourself back down to earth is a great way to handle stress management as they are readily available and require very little effort. In this article, Richard Gorra discusses one of his favorite activities for remaining stress-free- mindfulness walks.

What Is a Mindfulness Walk?

Mindful walking can mean slightly different things depending on who you ask however, to Richard Gorra, mindful walking means to be mentally present during your strolls. Generally, we tend to get caught up in the thought of getting where we need to be as we walk. This is because we are constantly under time constraints that dictate many of our activities during the day. When mindful walking, pay close attention to the sensation of walking. Your feet picking up and eventually hitting the ground, the movement that the rest of your body follows when walking, etc. are all worthwhile things to be attentive of as you journey.

When you get the hang of it, some practitioners believe that it is helpful to shift your attention to your other senses. Allow yourself to experience the smells that you encounter, the sounds that you hear, and the objects that you see on your journey. The openness of allowing yourself to be engulfed in the experience of your journey and not succumb to the clutter that normally bogs us down is mindful walking in a nutshell.

How Can Mindful Walking Help Stress Management?

Richard Gorra proposes that mindful walking can help with stress management by restoring your sense of focus and momentarily clearing your head of clutter that fills it on a day to day basis. Mindful walking can act as a form of meditation and exercise, allowing you to experience nature or whatever surroundings of your choosing to relax. Richard Gorra personally feels as though so much of our existence harps on the destination instead of the journey, and even simple tasks such as walking are usually done in pursuit of something other than the process of walking. Some walk for health, some walk to get to work or another destination, and both of those processes are perfectly fine. Walking, when done mindfully, can serve a different purpose by allowing you to feel more connected with yourself and the world by taking time out for yourself.

Richard Gorra Discusses the Qualities of a Great Milkshake

Richard Gorra making a milk shake

Who doesn’t enjoy a good milkshake? Richard Gorra notes that, while many of us enjoy milkshakes and rich desserts, most of us do not give much thought into how to make a quality milkshake even better with just a few easy steps and considerations. Acknowledging that we often fall into routines and stop experimenting with culinary endeavors that we find simple and not in need of a revamping, Richard Gorra includes a few easy ways to make a simple milkshake even more delicious than you’d ever imagine. Instead of settling for a “good” milkshake, Richard Gorra instead encourages the budding home cook to pursue a great one.

Cold Cup, Soft Ice Cream: When attempting to improve the quality of a tried and true favorite, it is always important to consider the individual components. At its base, a milkshake is simple in its contents- milk, ice cream, and perhaps some additions. Because a milkshake is so simple, there is a bit of pressure to make sure that each component is working optimally. For easy blending, use ice cream that has begun to appear soft but is not completely melted. To achieve this, leave your ice cream on your counter for just a few minutes. If keeping your milkshake cold is a priority, using a cup that has been placed in the freezer for a few minutes will ensure that your milkshake holds its consistency even on hot days.

Consider the Ratio: Richard Gorra has noted from his years of making milkshakes that the ratio of ice cream to milk is the biggest factor in determining whether your milkshake will be incredible. For a typical consistency, consider using a 2-1 ice cream to milk ratio to keep your milkshake from being too diluted. Less milk can be used in the milkshake for a thicker consistency but be aware that a thicker milkshake may need more effort to blend adequately.

Additions are Your Friend: Most of our favorite milkshakes have an addition of some kind to bring it all together. Cookie pieces, candy, caramel, etc. are all worthwhile ways to spice up a milkshake without making it too rich or decadent. For those that need a bit extra flavor, a splash of vanilla extract can bring out some of the more subtle, sweet notes in your milkshake. Many enjoy the addition of store brought whipped cream but with a little heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla, you can make your own whipped cream for your milkshake. Thoughtful additions are bound to make your milkshake a showstopper with only a bit of extra effort.

Richard Gorra Discusses Tips for Watering Plants

Richard Gorra

Several day-to-day activities are lauded by experts due to their ability to make us feel relaxed and at peace. Richard Gorra is a man that enjoys simple activities and sees them as an opportunity to maintain his mental well-being and sense of self. Caring for plants, to many is an activity that has proven to be therapeutic and has become a refuge for Richard Gorra personally. As simple as the task may be, several people are unaware of the best ways to maintain their plants and Richard Gorra provides tips for the budding agriculturalists among us.

Remember to Water the Roots: A common mistake amongst novice gardeners is that they forget that the leaves of a plant normally do not need to be watered at all. Instead, focus should be placed on the root zone when watering, which is referring to the soil on which the plant is located. Watering the entire plant is often ill advised because it can facilitate fungal disease on your plant’s leaves and flowers, inhibiting your plants’ growth and well-being.

Different Plants, Different Watering Rules: Many gardeners with multiple types of plants water their plants at the same time, which is not inherently a bad idea for those that do not have much time. It is important to remember that the type of plants you own will impact how much you should water in one sitting along with how frequently watering should occur. Some plants, like succulents, require very little water and can develop issues if watered too often. Other plants, such as ferns, do love to be watered frequently. Even still, consider that you do not have to water your plant if your soil is still wet to the touch.

Mind Your Plants’ Water Collection Trays: Your plants should have water collection trays under their pots in order to catch the excess water when tending to your plants. Richard Gorra notes that you do not have to pour out excess water in the tray immediately, especially because plants can reabsorb the water within thirty or so minutes of its accumulation. However, after that point, it is important to remove excess water as standing water your trays could lead to your plants developing root rot and associated issues.